about us...

Golden Thread Gallery
contemporary local international

From its beginnings, in 1998, in a former linen mill on a contested 'peace line' in North Belfast, Golden Thread Gallery has delivered annual programmes of exhibitions and activities designed to make a real contribution to the visual arts and wider communities in Northern Ireland.

Now located in Belfast's developing 'sailor-town' area, on the edge of the city centre, Golden Thread Gallery has grown a unique position in the region by simultaneously developing programs of contemporary art that reach local and international audiences.
Golden Thread Gallery has no permanent collection. Providing instead an ongoing series of temporary exhibitions and activities, that provide accessible and thought provoking opportunities to engage with aspects of contemporary artistic practice. Annually the gallery's program features:

• 6 temporary exhibitions in its 280m2 of gallery space,
• In-house and off-site, outreach activities including: participatory events and projects
• Monthly exhibitions of emerging artists & curatorial practice, community projects or experimental works in its' dedicated 50m2 project space
• An international touring exhibition
• An ever -changing display of works in a 'not-for-profit' sales room
• Publishing exhibition catalogues and contextual publications

The Golden Thread Gallery is a company Limited by Guarantee NI 41642 and is accepted as a Charity by the Inland Revenue under reference XR 54731

• Gallery Director Peter Richards
• Development Officer Ruth Graham
• Exhibitions Officer Sarah McAvera
• Outreach Officer Deirdre McKenna
• Sales Consultant Ben Crothers

brief history:

First began in 1999, the Golden Thread Gallery was reconstituted in 2001 and became a company recognised as having charitable status by the Inland Revenue. Until April 2007 the gallery was situated at the Brookfield Mill on the Crumlin Road, an old flax mill that gave the gallery its name. In April 2007 the gallery moved to its current premises on Great Patrick Street. The gallery was set up with the intention of providing a platform for Northern Irish to present their work alongside nationally and internationally renowned artists. This has continued to be one of the prime functions of the gallery.

Outreach activities at the gallery have also grown to become one of the gallery's core functions. Many of the activities offered by the gallery are in collaboration with community groups such as the Ardoyne Shankill Health Partnership, the YEHA Project and the Belfast Interface Network. Please click here for a full list of organisations that the gallery has worked with or is currently working with. Workshops are also delivered to schools. In-house activities, such as gallery talks, tours and discussions are open to all members of the public and are free.

Keep an eye on the news section of the website for information on upcoming events or contact Ruth or Deirdre on the gallery email.